We@sp 4 (2010)

“Shapoorji Pallonji & Co Ltd”, is one of the largest, oldest and MOST TRUSTED Indian construction companies and is the part of SP Group; has legacy of around 145 years though in many businesses but
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“Shapoorji Pallonji & Co Ltd”, is one of the largest, oldest and MOST TRUSTED Indian construction companies and is the part of SP Group; has legacy of around 145 years though in many businesses but primarily into construction (residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, infrastructure etc).

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Editorial Hello, Regional Safety Conferences and an informative article on As you are reading this, we have entered another New managing noise pollution. Year. We hope you are sticking to your New Year Another new initiative we have covered is the first Vendors resolutions. The editorial team wishes you and your family a Meet at Bengaluru. We hope to cover more such meets in very happy and prosperous new year. Be happy. Keep fit. the future. You will also find a report on the 3rd Group Do good. Be generous. Donate your PL to a needy Practice Sharing Forum which discussed practices in colleague (read about the Vacation Donation Program in this operations, functional expertise and technology. issue). Its official. The best project of 2009-10 was DLF 10, The previous year did not conclude on a happy note for Gurgaon. Kudos to the Project Team and Delhi Region. The India. The nation is beset by scams and scandals on every team received the award in the biggest event of the social front. Our own sector is facing mounting problems the calendar - our Annual Day. Read about the function which paramount of which is the shortage of skilled labour. The was special because of the presence of our Chairman, entire construction industry is furiously debating the solution. Mr. Pallonji Mistry. We will cover the Annual Day functions in The answer is skill development. We have taken the first our regions in the next issue. Our regions have been busy step by training unskilled workers as Carpenters in our sites with social, health and sporting initiatives. There is a lot at Delhi, Pune and Hyderabad. Other regions will follow. happening in our “Happenings” section. However, problems have not deterred our Regions from We haven’t forgotten to inform you on what is happening taking on challenges like constructing South India’s tallest on our projects. Read about an IT park (SP Infocity), residential tower - Mantri Pinnacle - in Bengaluru and Premium Residential Development (DAMAC Park Towers, ` 450 crore office towers project for Phoenix at Hyderabad. Dubai) and a Thermal Power Plant (Chhabra, Rajasthan). In the International arena, we have entered Kenya and Saudi We have also covered two major road interchanges Arabia. The details are given below. The recently concluded constructed in Delhi by our Group Company, AFCONS. International Strategy Conclave, featured in this issue, will On the lighter side, if you are planning a holiday abroad, give a further thrust to our International operations. read what Mukesh Rao had to say about his recent trip to Safety is first in our company and it was with immense pride Europe. You are advised not to go in for a Netbook or iPad that we accepted the Golden Safety Award - the nation’s without reading Saurabh’s expert comments. ‘Your Space’ is top accolade - from National Safety Council of India (NSCI) meant to be just that - your space. Please send in your for our General Motors Project, Pune. Our congratulations articles. Share your experience with the SP Family. to the Project Team and Safety Department. Read about it in Happy reading and send us your bouquets (and brickbats). this issue. Our Corporate Safety head, Mr. Alok Shrivastava, has also written about his new initiative - National and - The Editorial Team New Projects • Turnkey Construction of Serviced Apartments and Mall for • Construction of Shell & Core for Proposed Township for Riverside Ten Ltd. in Nairobi, Kenya. Vadinar Properties Ltd. at Vadinar, Jamnagar, Gujarat. • Civil and Structural work for Water Treatment Plant for • Civil, Architectural and Structural Steel work for Carbon Thermax Ltd. at Raigarh. Plant at Aditya Aluminium Smelter Project for Hindalco Industries Ltd. at Lapanga, Sambalpur, Orissa. • Development and Construction of Residential Units for Peninsula Land Ltd. at Ashok Ayatan, Nashik. • Construction of Office Space at Notified IT / ITES SEZ Project - HITEC-CITY – 2 for Phoenix Infocity Pvt. Ltd. at • Construction of proposed Formulation Facility for Gachibowli, Hyderabad. Flamingo Pharmaceuticals Ltd. at Nanded. • Civil and Structural works for project IRIS for Tata Motors • Construction of King Abdullah Financial District for Saudi Ltd. at Belur Industrial Area, Dharwad. Binladin Group at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. • Main Contract Works for Mantri Pinnacle - Premium High • Construction of Office Building at R&D plot for Reliance Rise Residential Development for Mantri Dwellings Pvt. Infrastructure Ltd. at Santacruz, Mumbai. Ltd. at Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru. • General Civil work for Tractors India Ltd. at TIL, • Civil and Structural Works for Tata Aerostructure Ltds. Kharagpur. Facility at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.01 • Construction of Administration and R&D Protoshop Building for Diamler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. at Oragadam, Sriperumbudur. • Design and Construction of residential development of Godrej Frontier for Godrej Properties Ltd. at Gurgaon.

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Main FeatureDamac Park Towers, Dubai swimming pool, health club and gymnasium, a spacious steam and sauna room, jacuzzi, tennis court and barbecue area. Business facilities include a concierge desk offering 24 hour service, an elevated coffee lounge providing dazzling views of the Financial Centre, a business centre with all facilities including a round-the-clock manned help desk. A banquet hall and meeting room have also been provided for private parties and business meetings. Work on the project commenced in February 2007. The major challenge was the unique shape of the building which was varying in shape and area - horizontally and vertically. Co-ordination with the specialist subcontractors in MEP Post, Tensioning and Glazing works was challenging as the layout changed on every floor. Despite this, SPML completed the 41 upper floors in 10 months time with a minimum cycle time of 4 days in some floors. The structure was completedView of the towers from Sheikh Zayed Road in November 2009. The formwork system for the core wasDamac Park Towers is a two-tower commercial / residential PERI’s auto climbing system while RMD table form was usedproject on the prestigious Sheikh Zayed Road in the heart of in slab decking. The short cycle time was achieved byDubai’s financial district, a stone’s throw away from the working on all parallel fronts. Block work and plastering isworld’s tallest building - Burj Khalifa, the world’s largest mall- almost complete while MEP works, tiling, lifts and glazing areDubai Mall and the world’s largest fountain situated between in progress.the two. The developer - DAMAC Properties, is a leading The unique façade system in this project is unitized panelresidential, leisure and commercial developer in Dubai who glazing - the first of its kind in the region. It comprises 6323has expanded rapidly into North Africa, Jordan, Lebanon, triangular panels - each averaging 2.5 SM in size. It was a bigQatar and Saudi Arabia. To date they have delivered more challenge managing the huge number of panels, each panelthan 3029 units in projects at IMPZ (The Crescent), of an unique size, fabricating and erecting them especiallyTECOM (Executive Heights), JLT (Lake View and Lake due to the obstructions created by the temporary verticalTerrace) and The Marina (The Waves and Marina Terrace). access to the building in the form of tower cranes andShapoorji Pallonji Mideast LLC (SPML) are the main builder hoists.contractors and the value of the contract is AED 500 Million The 15 elevators in the building have a speed of 4 m/s andThe other stakeholders are: capacity of 1050 kgs. The installation was done in twoConcept Designer : Gensler phases by closing the core at 22nd floor. Two windowEngineering Designer : Engineering Consulting Group cleaning cradles have been installed at the top of each tower.MEP Consultant : Ian Banham Associates (IBA) The telescopic jib of 32 m - one of the longest in the MiddleAluminium Glazing : Arabian Aluminium East- permits access to every external corner. RestraintLifts : Thyssen Krupp sockets have been provided to hold the 250 kg capacity cradle in any position.MEP Contractor : OMEGA SPML can be proud that they achieved 10 million safe manThe complex with a total built up area of 17.3 lakh sq.ft., hours in this project.comprises 3 basements, 7 podiums and 41 floor twintowers. The basements are for parking 1059 cars. The Major Items:podiums house 108 retail outlets and 120 offices while the 1. Concrete : 83,253 CMtwin towers contain 530 one, two and three bedroom 2. Steel : 7,735 MTapartments. The height of the buildings is 182 m (600 feet). 3. Masonry : 1,20,618 SMRecreational facilities include a temperature controlled 4. Flooring : 80,629 SM - Anjani Pathak, SPINT, DubaiSP Infocity, Chennai A breathtaking challenge taken with pride by SP Real Estate in Chennai, SP Infocity stands out among the many IT parks in Chennai. An iconic design by the renowned architect, Hafeez Contractor, the fourteen storey structure is the tallest structure in its vicinity. The structure is also a “Gold Rated Green Building.” The major quantities were: 1. Concrete : 95,300 CM 2. Reinforcement : 12,400 MT 3. Formwork : 3,17,000 SM 4. Blockwork : 46,000 SMArtists Impression 5. Plastering 6. Granite : 73,000 SM : 9800 SM 02

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7. False Ceiling : 3,000 SM provided by 14 Mitsubishi elevators with a speed of 2.5 8. POP Work : 2,700 SM m/sec. For air conditioning the building, chillers weighing up 9. Internal Painting : 17,200 SM to 5 tonnes were lifted 65m above the ground. NANO 10. External Texture films with U/V reflectors reduced the effect of Chennai heat Painting : 20,200 SM inside the building. Refuge areas were provided in every 11. Structural Steel : 321 MT module to give a common space to occupants. Accentuated Construction commenced in September 2006 with mass by curved beams on the elevation, the refuge areas provide excavation. The schedule was in 3 phases with basements of all an aesthetic detailing for the whole building. the phases taken up at one stretch. All major works of the first The architects took Mr. Frank Lloyd Wright’s dictum “The phase in Block A were finished by early August 2009. space within becomes the reality of the building” when it Mr. A. Balaji (AGM, Projects) was the Project-in-charge and was came to designing the internal spaces. The granite finished guided by Mr. Anand Rao (AVP SPRE), Mr. D. Santhosh (DGM, , common areas lend elegance to the interiors and are eye SPCL) and Mr. Tarapore (GM, SPCL HO) The staff strength at catching. the peak - August to November 2008 - touched 230. A major part of the building has been handed over to the The project presented several challenges. The multi level clients and the project has vastly augmented SPCL’s car park was provided under the building by excavating 0.35 capability of building international class IT parks. million CM of rock filled earth. Vertical transportation was - Adeep Jecob, Chennai CTPP, Chhabra, Rajasthan Construction of both these facilities is under the scope of SPCL. SPCL has complete civil construction under its scope. The structures included are power house building, coal handling plant, boiler foundation, ESP foundation & control room, clarified water channels, fore bay, pump house, de- mineralization plant, switchyard, transformer yard and turbo generator foundation, columns, deck slab etc. Here, it is imperative to mention a couple of challenges the team faced during the course of construction in wagon tippler area and turbo generator area. The earth in general around this area consists of various strata of soft and hard rock beneath the initial thin layer of Black Cotton soil. So, for the construction of any foundation, controlled blasting was required. Setting off charges at 2m intervals, the team had to blast the way down to 20 meters Birds eye view of the construction site depth to achieve the desired level in wagon tippler area. Around 2,50,000 cum of blasting has been done already. In Chhabra Thermal Power Plant (CTPP) is being constructed view of the fact that blasting work gets frequently interrupted to meet the growing energy demand of Rajasthan. The by continuous seepage, two operations-blasting and round client-Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited the clock dewatering are being done simultaneously. (RRVUNL), has engaged Indure Private Limited (IPL) as their Another challenging area was the construction of Turbo EPC contractor and Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE) as their Generator raft, columns and deck slab. All three structures consultant on this project. i.e. raft, columns and deck slab have temperature controlled CTPP is a coal fired, sub critical plant situated on the border concreting. SPCL is casting 28 nos. 14 meters high columns of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, 150 kms from Kota in in one pour. The temperature of the concrete is maintained Rajasthan and 250 kms from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. It is strictly at 23°C by mixing 250 kgs ice in water for every cum situated in a remote area of the state and temperature here of concrete. This cold water is continuously sprinkled over ranges between 50 and 5 degree Celsius. The plant has aggregates and then mixed with cement, sand and pre been constructed near the bank of Parvati River, which is the cooled aggregate to get the required temperature. It is not feeding source of water for the plant. Two units of 250 MW the normal activity which takes place every day on a are already in operation and the construction of next two construction site, with three-tier stringent inspection by the units of 250 MW each is in progress. It is a zero discharge clients. plant. The water from Parvati River is used for generating Salient features of the project power, after which it gets treated in the effluent treatment Project Cost : ` 80 Crore plant system and is ultimately reused for irrigation. Another Concrete : 1,40,000 Cum unique feature of the plant is that it is environment friendly and 99.9% of ash is absorbed by electrostatic precipitator, Reinforcement Steel : 14,000 MT03 keeping the surrounding area clean and healthy. Blasting : 2,50,000 Cum - Alok Rajan, Ahmedabad

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SafetyManaging Noise Pollution: A definite needNoise can be defined as unwanted or undesired sound. • Work scheduling: Give breaks in noisy activities toUsually 80 decibel is the level at which sound becomes avoid continuous exposure.physically painful and can be termed as noise. Humans, • Identify high noise areas & display signs to wear PPE’sanimals, plants and even inert objects like buildings and like ear muffs / plugs.bridges have been victims of the increasing noise pollution Statute on Noise:caused in the world. Be it human or machine-created, noise At Workplace: As per Schedule VI of Rule 34 of “Thedisrupts the activity and balance of life. Its effects on our Building and Other Construction Workers’ (Regulation ofhealth are elucidated below:- Employment and Conditions of Service) Central Rules,- Continuous exposure to noise in the range of 90 to 140 1998” pertaining to the “Building and Other Construction dB is harmful which, in the construction activities, is Workers’ Act, 1996”. caused by drilling, grinding, fabrication and erection, Permissible Total Time of Exposure and Corresponding compressors, generators, winches, heavy vehicles, Sound Pressure Level concrete pumps, batching plants, cranes and material handling. It may result in: Sound pressure Total Time of Exposure (Continuous • Auditory Effects: Rupture of drum, auditory fatigue, level in dB(A) or a number of short term hearing loss. exposure) per day in hours • Non-Auditory Effects: Annoyance, irritability, 90 8 interference in speech, difficulty in communication, 100 2 low night vision, difficult colour perception, vague 110 0.5 muscular pains, lack of sleep, indigestion, heartburn, high blood pressure, ulcers and heart disease. 115 0.25- Effects of noise are gradual and often painless, person For Outside Environment: As per “The Noise Pollution often fail to recognize these. (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000”.- Hearing loss may also occur immediately on exposure to Ambient Air Standards in Respect of Noise sudden intense form of noise energy. Category of Limits in dB Limits in dB- Hearing loss is attributable to destruction of cells in inner Area / Zone (A) Leq* Day (A) Leq* Night Time ear. These cells are neither repaired nor replaced by Time (600 -2200 (2200- 600 Hrs.) b o d y a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e H E A R I N G LO S S I S Hrs.) PERMANENT. Action by sites to reduce the noise pollution: Industrial 75 70- Controlling air borne / structure borne sound by; Commercial 65 55 • Regular servicing and maintenance, enclosing entire Residential 55 45 machine / parts, reducing the vibrations in *Silence Zone 50 40 components, replacing metal parts with sound Note: absorbing materials. Silence Zone is defined as an area comprising not less than • Fitting muffler of the exhaust, changing type of 100 meters around hospitals, educational institutions and pneumatic equipment to reduce high frequency courts. The silence zones are zones which are declared as components, proper fastening of parts, isolating the such by the competent authority. workplace containing noisy equipment. 1. Mixed categories of areas may be declared as one of the • Avoiding banging / knocking of materials, reducing four above mentioned categories by the competent height of fall in bins or yard, reducing sharp blows by authority. using rubber / plastic covering, reducing speed of conveyor belts / motors and other moving parts, if 2. *dB(A) Leq denotes the time weighted average of the possible. level of sound in decibels on scale A which is relatable to • Covering walls / ceilings with sound absorbing porous human hearing. materials, using sound absorbing screens, building 3. A "decibel" is a unit in which noise is measured. sound proof control areas / rest rooms. 4. "A", in dB (A) Leq, denotes the frequency weighting in the • Providing sound barriers / curtains around high noise measurement of noise and corresponds to frequency areas like cutting, grinding and drilling etc. response characteristics of the human ear.- Avoiding continuous exposure to noise by: 5. Leq: It is an energy mean of the noise level, over a • Job rotation: Change the tasks performed by specified period. employees. - Alok Shrivastava, SP HOOutdoor noise control - Barriers. Indoor noise control - Curtains. 04

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Happenings SPCL Head Office celebrates Annual Day Mr. Pallonji Mistry lighting the inaugural lamp. SP Agri business), spoke on the projects and future plans of November 12, 2010. SPCL Head Office’s Annual Day was their business. celebrated at the JK Banquets. It was a remarkable evening On the occasion, Mr. Cyrus Mistry gave the 10 year long as the chairman, Mr. Pallonji Mistry walked in amidst a warm service awards and Mr. Shapoor Mistry the awards for 25 cheerful welcome, followed by the Managing Directors - years service. Mr. Saini, CEO of SPCL, was a distinguished Mr. Shapoor Mistry and Mr. Cyrus Mistry. The inaugural recipient of the 25 years service award (see above) lamp was lit by them. Mr. Varghese Mathew, Chief People Mr. Pallonji Mistry felicitated employees who completed 35 Officer, gave a welcome address to start the evening years of service. Mr. Hiloo, (DGM, Accounts) was one of proceedings. the proud recipients (see below). Mr. Pallonji Mistry addressed the gathering, recounting the growth of the company over the years and the role of the management and employees in taking the company to new heights. He looked forward to continued efforts from the employees in meeting the ambitious targets set for the company’s 150th anniversary in 2015. The ‘Best Project’ Award was given to DLF-10 Project, Delhi Region. Mr. P Rakheja (Director, Operations), .K. Mr.Shammi Khurana (Additional GM, Projects, Delhi) and Mr. Anil Kumar Tomar (Project Manager) collected the award. The event came alive with music performed by ‘90 Degree’ The staff of SPCL took to the dance floor and enjoyed Mr. Pallonji Mistry addressing the gathering themselves. Besides song and dance, people relished a variety of cuisines. Amidst all fun and entertainment, The heads of various business units - Mr. Kekoo Colah (SP employees got the opportunity to bond well with one Real Estate), Mr. Mukundan (SP Infra), Mr. Kannan (EPC another. division) and Dr. A.K. Gupta (on behalf of Mr. N. Dharmaraj, - Shikha Banerjee, SPRE HO05 Having a good time!

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International Strategy Conclave - 2010 Mr. Cyrus Mistry & Mr. Saini with the participants at the conclave. Dubai was the venue for the International Strategy Conclave organizing this event. The meet focused on identifying the - 2010 for SPCL’s International Operations and was hosted company’s prospective clientele, countries and business by SP International FTZ (SPINT) on the 7 th and 8 th segments, services and products to be offered. The December’10. company’s strategies for strengthening the resources to This conclave was chaired by Mr. Cyrus P Mistry & . meet clients’ expectations were also discussed in the Mr. M.D. Saini and was anchored by Mr. Prabal Kansal, conclave. Strategy Department, SPCL. The broad agenda of the Mr. Cyrus P Mistry welcomed all the participants and shared . conclave was to brainstorm on “The Way Forward” i.e. the vision for SPCL & SP International for the next 5 years. brainstorming the future strategic action plans with senior During the two-day conclave, country heads from UAE, Sri management of the company for all countries where SPINT Lanka, Libya, Sudan, Nigeria, Qatar, Ghana, Algeria, Sub already has a presence and also the countries of interest in Saharan Countries, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia (KSA) apprised the future. everyone present of their business plans. Brand building and The participants for the conclave included all country heads, international human resource practices were also discussed respective department heads and senior officials at SP at length in the conclave. The conclave concluded with a International. The meeting commenced with Mr. M.D. Saini vote of thanks to all participants. welcoming all the participants and sharing the purpose of - Prabal Kansal, SP HO Group Practice Sharing Forum III The 3rd practice sharing forum of the Shapoorji Pallonji AFCONS at Tender Stage’ by Mr. Giridhar Rajagopalan Group was held on 11th November, 2010, at Sunville (Technical Director), ‘Contract Management and Banquets, Worli, Mumbai. Administration’ by Mr. S. Sankar (Executive Vice-President, The theme for the third quarter was “Operations, Functional Contract), and ‘Excellence through Execution’ by Expertise and Technology”. Presentations were made by Mr. V. Manivannan (Vice-President, CPE). Mr. Giridhar t e a m s f r o m Fo r b e s Te c h n o s y s ( F T L ) , A F C O N S shared the innovative approach adopted in the Chennai Infrastructure, Forbes-Engineering Division, SPCL and Central station project especially in rock excavation which Sterling and Wilson. was done without using Nxburst chemicals and without disrupting the smooth running of traffic in the crowded Mr. Sandeep Bhatia unfolded the FTL success story in metro. Mr. Shankar brought out the ethos of managing deploying 500 kiosks for SBI, India’s largest bank. The kiosks contracts and also building deeper relationships and were a result of an increasing need to have an alternate understanding customers’ needs and situations. He used the delivery channel to ATMs and branch banking. The Seven Habits Framework (Stephen Covey) to brilliantly implementation and operational challenges included highlight contract management. Mr. Manivannan shared 5 conceptualizing, identifying kiosk models, selection of case studies highlighting execution excellence. vendors for each stage in the process, carrying out user acceptance tests; all of this not withstanding their T h e Fo r b e s E n g i n e e r i n g t u r n a r o u n d s t o r y u s i n g inexperience in projects of this scale in the past and limited differentiations such as service and cost leadership was manufacturing capacity (for kiosks). He also elaborated the interesting as was the energy vertical narration on the post bid activities to ramp up their capabilities by deploying strategic shift to small power turbine requirements, the key SAP deploying account managers, getting the software and , success factors being acquiring Technology for Assembly/ the engineers ready to deliver. Creation of multi functional Manufacturing of Turbines, providing full-fledged task force was the key element in the successful delivery of Refurbishing/ Service Activities on demand, building Team this project. for Sales and execution of O&M/ EPC Contracts and setting up Power Projects in 15-30 MW range using BOOT model.07 The second session had three presentations from the AFCONS team viz, ‘Culture of Collaborative Effort in Sterling and Wilson shared their success stories in Nokia Siemens and ISTA hotels amongst others and highlighted the

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operations management in these projects using technology. Mr. Nozer Tarapore and Mr. Sagar Gandhi shared the Virtual Design & Construction tool that would help SPCL in planning, visualization, execution and is being tried out on a pilot basis. The success of this forum is around the implementation of the ideas that have worked in one business in other businesses. No doubt they will have to be modified to the needs and the context of the business, but they can certainly be implemented. - Vasant Sanzgiri, SP Group CentreMr. Cyrus Mistry with the SPCL team.Vendors Meet 2010, BengaluruAs part of SPCL’s corporate strategy, several key initiativeswere undertaken to achieve the company’s vision andmission. One of the initiatives under “Vendor Developmentand Management” was undertaken by the Bengaluru Regionwhich organized the first “Vendor Meet”. The meet, underthe guidance of Mr. N. D. Sadri, was held on 9th October,2010 at Hotel Mathan, Bengaluru.The meet was targeted at 15 specific product categories andbrought together more than 75 participants from 50companies. Mr. Prashant Mahajan (Additional GM, BD,Bengaluru) welcomed the gathering and briefed them onthe importance of organizing such events in the constructionindustry. He also took the opportunity to apprise everyoneabout the current status of projects in the Bengaluru Region. Inauguration by Mr. T Mallikarjuna. Towards left are Mr. Mitra,The meet was formally inaugurated by Mr. T. Mallikarjuna Mr. Tribhuvan, Mr. Sadri & Mr. Shivkumar.(VP Bengaluru region) who lit the inaugural lamp along with , Outlining the purpose of the meet, he urged the vendors toMr. Debasis Mitra (Director, Operations), Mr. N.D. Sadri collaborate with SPCL in discussing and resolving technical(Addl GM, Materials & QM), Mr.Sarang Tribhuvan (GM, and commercial issues, improvisation of delivery mechanismCommercial) and Mr. Shiva Kumar (DGM, Purchase, and facilitate smooth exchange if ideas to pave the way forBengaluru). innovation and accelerate the growth momentum. TheMr. Mallikarjuna highlighted the status of SPCL in the vendors were felicitated and awarded certificates ofconstruction industry and drew attention to its rapid growth. appreciation based on their performance. This was followedMr. Mitra delivered the key note address delineating the by a cultural event on the theme of collaboration.policies of SPCL and its growth in recent years. The meet concluded with a vote of thanks byMr. Sadri announced the theme for the meet “Lets Mr. Shivakumar followed by cocktails and dinner.collaborate and together multiply the success in future”. - Nozer Sadri, SP HONICMAR E-PGPM Batch 6Every year SPCL sponsors a few deserving employees to 1 Ms. Doris Mukesh Mehta HOthe exclusive Executive Post Graduate Program in 2 Mr. Nitin Ramesh Mohorikar Bengaluru – ROManagement at NICMAR, Pune. This 16 month contact- 4 Mr. Ashish Kumar Gupta Delhi - RObased program, exclusively conceptualized and developed 5 Mr. Uttam Kumar Pal Delhi - ROfor SPCL, aims at developing professional project engineers 6 Mr. Puranam Virupakshaiah Hyderabad - RO/ managers with the skills to handle Construction Project 7 Mr. Siddhartha Nath Kolkata - ROManagement problems. Participants are carefully chosen 8 Mr. Saugata Mazumder Kolkata - RObased on their past performance and leadership potential 9 Mr. Vinod Ramrao Surve Nasik - ROexhibited in their current roles. 10 Mr. Tushar M. Hire Nagpur - ROParticipants spend ten weeks on the Pune campus, three 11 Mr. Pravin Lanjewar Pune - ROweeks every term and one week at the end of the course 12 Mr. Rajesh Sharma Real Estate-Delhifor the final exam and viva voce. SPCL bears the entire 13 Mr. Sumit Goswami EPC - Kolkatacourse fee, lodging and boarding expense incurred for the 14 Mr. Goutam Nandi EPC - Kolkataprogram. 15 Mr. Sudip Mitra EPC - KolkataNICMAR has recently announced the results of the 6th 16 Mr. Vishal P Borude Mumbai - ROBatch of E-PGPM course. We congratulate the following 17 Mr. Balbir Bisht Delhi - ROsuccessful participants of the 6th Batch 18 Mr. Murali Krishna Hyderabad - RO - Sohan Mohanty, SP HO 08

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Vacation Donation Programme As you may be aware, SPCL HR Department introduced six who had a fall and required full time care. Having recently policies in October aimed at motivating and rewarding joined the company, she had no leave to her credit and was meritorious performances of employees and their children on leave without pay during this emergency. Then, a and increasing the bonding among the employees. benefactor (who wishes not to be named) donated 6 days One such policy was the Vacation Donation Programme. Privilege Leave. This unexpected act of generosity touched Sometimes, circumstances compel an employee to take Shraddha. She said: “I felt good. His act helped a lot and I more leave than is available to him/her. The policy was thrilled. I had read about the policy but never thought encourages ‘caring’ employees to come to the aid of his/her that I could benefit from it. I am so glad that our company is colleague by donating PL from his/her account to the colleague without any expectation on his/her part. different from others. We are the only one to have this policy.” One such employee, Ms Shraddha Trasi of Corporate HR who was a beneficiary under this scheme. Shraddha was Let us all take a pledge that in the New Year we will reach away from office for 4 weeks to take care of her mother out and help our colleagues in need. - Mukesh Rao, SP HO ELP Training, Hyderabad The session in progress ‘Empowered Leadership Development’ program was held for the managerial cadres at Hyderabad region from the 9th to 11th December, 2010. Twenty nine staff members from program. I think every body should try to follow as much as Planning, QS, Execution, MEP Tender & QA/QC depts. , possible from this program. It will certainly improve our attended the program. This was a residential program leadership quality with values & self esteem. I am sure that organized in a serene environment at a resort. Feedback from through this light of knowledge every body will prosper in a few participants is given below: life with a specific goal.” 1. Mr. Govind Sharma, Manager (Construction), EMAAR 4. Mr. P.G.C. Santosh, Manager (Planning), EMAAR MGF Site MGF Site says, “I feel that this program may be conducted said,“The key learnings from the program are at other regions also as this program has given a different a. Listen to anyone without a burden to agree. thought process and lateral thinking. This will help the b. No break through happens inside comfort zone. individual to identify their red and green behaviors which they are not aware of. This program has given a different c. Win and keep winning, but not by making others lose. view to think about your own strengths which you can 5. Mr G.Chakravarthy, Senior Manager (Planning) from AKES utilize for achieving your goals in life effectively.” Site said “The ELP work shop has made a transformation in 2. Mr. Y. Babji, Dy. Manager (QS & Planning), ITC my life. It really touched my emotions and fuelled my Bhadrachalam says, “This type of program may not give an passion for doing something extraordinary not only for instant result but constant application will show good result organizational growth but also for entire human kind. I am both for the participant and the organization. It has the thankful to the entire faculty who showed us our destiny. potential to make a change in behavioral skills, goal setting, Now this group is called HYDERBAD GOLDEN EAGLES and conflict resolution.” and this team will develop more powerful teams in future. I thank management for giving this wonderful opportunity09 3. Mr. Tonmoy Mukherjee, Dy.Manager (Construction), to be a learner at ELP.” HHIPL Site, Vizag says, “It was a wonderful program. Firstly the venue selected was the correct place for such a - Aziz Tayyaba, Hyderabad

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SPCL Site Bags the NSCI Safety AwardsCEO-SPCL, Mr. MD Saini receiving the NSCI Golden Award from Union NSCI Award ceremony photographs, 30th October, 2010, Manager-SPCL, Mr.Labour Minister Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge on 30th October, 2010 accompanied by Rahul Mazumdar, DGM-SPCL, Mr. KU Ramu, and Regional Head HSE. Pune-Head HSE-SPCL, Mr. Alok Shrivastava. Also seen in the picture are DG- NSCI, SPCL, Mr. Tushar Banekar- with the honorable minister.Mr. VB Sant, Secretary-Ministry of labor, Mr. Anup Pandey and Vice Chairman-NSCI, Mr. Galav.The National Safety Council of India (NSCI) aimed at innovative and fresh concepts that were enforced in totality,recognising and encouraging establishments for achieving there was hardly any probability of an unsafe practice during“Excellence in Occupational Health and Safety Management the execution phase and this is what happened precisely.System in Construction Projects” by initiating the “Safety First” is a mindset which each and every employee at“Sarvshreshtha Surakhsha Puraskar Scheme” in 2005. SPCL’s SPCL believes in and given utmost importance by our MD,General Motors project at Talegaon, Pune won this Mr. Cyrus Mistry. It was indeed a superlative achievementprestigious NSCI Golden Safety Award (‘Sarvshreshtha that was contributed by:Surakhsha Puraskar’) for the year 2009. • Sheer dedication and hard work put in by the site andThe robust “Health, Safety and Environment Management regional teamSystem” (HSEMS) of SPCL was in place right from day oneof the project. The concept of not giving a single day’s • Absolute support and commitment of the clientleeway and HSEMS rules and procedures proved very • Decisions and actions by top management to boost thecrucial in establishing the mind set of site team. Even the HSE movementclient, General Motors, reinforced the HSEMS of SPCL by Though continuously strengthening existing HSEMS systemsfurther infusing it with their relevant practices and played a complementary role, it is the inherent cultureprocedures that are acknowledged worldwide. which contributed towards adding one more feather in ourWith the, amalgamation of these two proven safety cultures crown.and all necessary collaboration, coupled with various - Alok Shrivastava, SP HOSafety ConferenceTo bolster the safety culture across the Company, it wasmooted by the corporate HSE department (CHSED) tohold one-day Safety Conferences, involving key seniormanagement representatives and safety personnel fromHO, ROs as well as from the project sites.As a result, the first safety conference was held at SP Centrehaving participation from the corporate team and regionalteams represented by the Regional Head (RH) and RegionalSafety Coordinator (RSC). All RHs had made presentationsfor their respective regions in the prescribed format.Subsequently, a conference was organised for each region Participants taking the safety oathattended by the RH, Project Coordinators, ProjectManagers, RSC and Safety Officers. CHSED was Total safety conferences : 9 (one at HO, 8 at ROs)represented in each of the regional safety conferences and a Number of sites participated : 96training session of two hours on Awareness, Principles and Participants : 245Guidelines of Safety was imparted to the participants. To organise the Safety Conference on a regular basis wasProject Managers made presentations on the safety aspects unanimously agreed by all the participants. Therefore, it isof their sites in the prescribed format. Details of the proposed to have annual HO conference and ROconferences are as follows- conferences twice in a year. - Alok Shrivastava, SP HO 10

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Happening in Delhi Region TML thanked SPCL for support in achieving the milestone of 34,926 numbers of Vehicles Production in FY 2009 – 2010 and presented the trophy to SPCL. Mr. Alok Saxena, Plant Head, TML, Lucknow and Mr. Rajeev Kumar Gupta, AGM (Commercial) also appreciated the TMLL team of SPCL and presented the Gold Award in Project Services for 2009 – 2010 and the Excellent Safety Performance Award – Plant Head Service Provider Safety Trophy for 2009 – 2010. SPCL in WODD Rally at India Gate th 6 World Organ Donation Day Staff of SPCL Delhi Region along with their families participated in the Mass Awareness campaign on the occasion of the 6th World Organ Donation Day held at India Gate, New Delhi on 27th November, 2010. The event in which SPCL raised the slogan “Organ Donation - A Gift for TMLL site team with the award. Life”, was organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Mr. P K. Rakheja, Sr. V. P (North), Mr. Kalyan Kumar Kanji, G. M. . . Health and Family Welfare and World Health Organisation and Mr. Sandeep Kool, Project Manager, TMLL were present at (WHO). Mrs. Sheila Dikshit, CM of Delhi and Mr. Ghulam the award ceremony held at Lucknow and accepted the trophy, Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health were present on the awards and recognition on behalf of TMLL site team. occasion which also witnessed performances from Daler Mehndi and Raju Srivastava. SPCL, Delhi Region regularly - Gautam Sarkar, Delhi participates in other awareness campaigns too like World Free eye testing camp AIDS Day and Food Safety Day. An eye camp was organized in association with Mahavir International, a Delhi based Trust. Airtel Delhi Half Marathon The camp was organized at two of the company sites in Eight staff members from Delhi also ran in the Airtel Delhi Greater Noida (GVM and CSCT). Half Marathon on 21st November, 2010. Running under the slogan - Safety First in Construction Industry - they all Preliminary vision testing was performed by the ophthalmic improved on their previous timings. Delhi had also sent a team using vision charts and E type charts. Patients who had representative to run in the Stanchart Mumbai Marathon problems with their vision were given glasses free of cost. and its Cricket and Football teams regularly participate in Clinical conditions such as external eye infection and tournaments held at Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh. presence of cataract were also examined. Test findings were evaluated and after examination, doctors made the final TMLL Site bags Award diagnoses and prescribed necessary treatment. TATA Motor Lucknow (TML) arranged the ‘Service Around 821 labourers benefited from the camp and 200 Providers Annual Meet 2010’ on 20th September, 2010. pairs of spectacles were distributed. - Preeti Sehgal, Delhi The iSpace Corporate Cricket Tourney 2010 This year the teams donned a full cricket uniform with each team’s color, logo, names and numbers of individual players. The prize money was also increased to ` 40,000 for the winner and ` 25,000 for the runner up team. There were also individual prizes for best bowler and best batsman of the tourney. The event was sponsored by Croma, Sanjay Maintenance Services, Ansec Security Services, Rajeshwari Landscaping, Om Enterprises, Wastu Painting Services, Unique Electricals, Adventure Plus, Sodexo, Citrus Check Inns, Vedant Facility Services, Sabcons & Balaji Caterers. Each team was allowed to field 7 players. All had to bowl an over in the innings and there were fun rules for scoring runs & declaring a batsman out. The finalist were ‘Oceans IX’ and ‘ADP A’ with the latter successfully defending their total of 46 Mr. Shailesh Korgaokar with the winners. runs. The second edition of the iSpace Corporate Cricket Tourney The ‘Best Batsman’ prize went to Aniket of ‘ADP A’ and Nithi concluded at SP Infocity Pune on 17th November, 2010. of ‘Oceans IX’ was the ‘Best Bowler’. Nachiket of ‘SPCL Encouraged by the success of the inaugural tourney in 2009, Fighters’ was recognized as the ‘Best Player’ of the tourney. iSpace Club invited entries from various companies on Mr. Lalchand Rajput was the guest of honor for the event. and gave away the prizes.11 campus to participate this year as well. The response was phenomenal with 40 teams registering as opposed to 24 last year, inspite of the entry fees being higher. - Shailesh Korgaokar, SP Infocity, Pune.

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Happening in Kolkata RegionMr. Kalpanath Banerjee and Mr. Pranob Roy with the budding footballers. Team lead by Mr. Kalpanath Banerjee on the jobKolkata Regions Football match for the underprivileged Pond Cleaning at Nayalanka Pondchildren Forbes, a group concern of SP is involved in numerous ,Kolkata Region conducted a friendly football match on activities like water harvesting and cleaning of ponds. Our14th August, 2010 for underprivileged children. The footballmatch was conducted in two parts. The first half was for MD. Mr. Cyrus Mistry, had expressed his desire that SPCLunderprivileged children from schools in the age group of should also be engaged in creating a better environment.10 - 15 years. Six teams from various schools of Kolkata Motivated by his vision, the Recreation Club of SPCL,participated in the match. Kolkata got involved in the cleaning of the 300 year oldThe event started at 9.00 am at the Salt Lake GD Block Nayalanka Pond in Barasat.football ground where members of the recreation club On the 15th of August, 2010, staff of the Recreation Clubalong with staff of SPCL and the school teams gathered. The along with local residents got into action and conducted amatches were conducted in knockout format and each half ‘Shramdan’ to clean the pond. The enthusiasm with whichwas of 15 minutes with a break of 10 minutes.Though a friendly event, the matches were played with the local residents engaged in this activity further motivatedgreat competitive spirit. Bidhannagar Municipality School the club members. Everyone has committed to continuewon the competition. Mr. Bhaskar Ganguly, renowned with the cleaning and beautification of the pond.footballer of West Bengal, was the chief guest. Hecongratulated the teams on their participation. Mr. Pranob - Usha Venkatesan, KolkataRoy, former member of Indian Cricket Test Team,distributed the prizes. On behalf of club, Mrs KalpanathBanerjee presented a memento to Mr. Bhaskar Ganguly and Health Camp, GuwahatiMr. Pranob Roy.In the second half a friendly match was played between KB-XI and TSR-XI. It looked amazing when AGMs, DGMs andVP along with engineers and officers ran after a football. Atthe end KB-XI won 4-0. Health camp for workers A health checkup camp for workers was organized at Radisson Hotel, Guwahati site, on 11th September, 2010. Dr. Madhukar Choudhury (MD) of Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital, a premier govt. hospital at Guwahati,Mr. and Mrs. Kalpanath Banerjee presenting memento conducted the checkup. He advised the workers to taketo Mr. Bhaskar Ganguly. necessary health measures and also spoke at length to themThe SP team members had also made provision for about general wellbeing.breakfast and lunch which the children thoroughly enjoyed. - Abhilash Choudhury, KolkataIt was overwhelming to see the joy on the faces of thesechildren. The memory of the sporting event will always staywith the members of the Recreation Club. - Usha Venkatesan, Kolkata 12

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Focus on group companies Projects by AFCONS Ghazipur Project the prestigious Common Wealth Game projects to be completed by AFCONS. The project worth ` 183 Cr at completion was inaugurated on schedule on 29th June, 2010 by the Chief Minister of Delhi. The scope of work included 770 m long main flyover with 8 lanes for vehicular traffic, 6630 m underpass with 4 lanes plus 3 m carriageway on each side for non-motorized vehicles, rotary of 80 m, surface level 8 numbers of slip road each of 3500 m length and 11m width on either side of flyover and underpass. The construction of the PSC slab was done by using Balance Cantilever Bridge Builder Technique. This technique has been implemented for the first time in a Delhi flyover. View of underpass and flyover The Maximum length of Single Span of Carriage way is 75 m & width 15.2 m which is also a first in Delhi. The record Construction of main flyover, underpass, slip roads, bridge time cycle of 6 days was achieved with balance cantilever widening over drain, footbridge, bus bays, cycle tracks, bridge builder technique in the complete construction of drainage, electrical, landscaping, and allied works at segments of 3 mtrs. each. Ghazipur crossing of NH – 24 and Road No. 56, is one of Mukarba Chowk Project • Four Slip Roads for left turns and Four Clover Leaves for right turns with three lane carriageway (9.0 meter each) on integrated and continuous Voided Slab avoiding bearing usage and minimizing expansion joints / RCC Box / Re-Wall / Embankments. • 2950 meter long and 4 meter wide dedicated Cycle Track / Footpath. • Bus bays on Flyover and Ground Level below Flyover. • Staircase and Ramps (For physically challenged and senior citizens), Subway for crossing for both cyclists and pedestrians and future provisions for Lifts and Escalators. • Landscaping, Street Lighting etc. View of main flyover from Rohini end • Aesthetically pleasant Electric Poles on Slip Roads and Construction of the Grade Separator at Mukarba Chowk at Cloverleaves providing better lux level on carriageway. GT Karnal Road on Outer Ring Road junction, New Delhi, was the first Common Wealth Game project to be • Extensive use of imported GOMACO Slip Form Paver completed by AFCONS. It won the best project award for construction of RCC Crash Barriers. from the Ministry of PWD. The completely Signal Free • Managing huge volume of traffic. Junction comprised the Construction of Main Flyover Achievements: including Loops, Slip Roads, Bridges, Subway, Cycle Tracks, Drainage, Electrical, Landscaping and allied works. • Appreciation from Client for completing 1450 cum of continuous concreting of voided slab in the loop of The value of the project at completion was ` 173 crores and 4th quadrant in a record time of 24 hours. it was inaugurated on 1st March, 2009. • Appreciation from Client for completing 200 nos of Mukarba Chowk Intersection on GT Karnal Road-Outer 1200 mm diameter piles in a month. Ring Road in North Delhi is the gateway to five states of India viz. Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh • Unique shape of piers, pier caps & voided slabs in and Jammu & Kashmir and also to Delhi. It is one of the various loops, slip roads & main flyover. busiest junctions of Delhi. Access to the capital city of India • Appreciation from Client for fabricating 2460 MT of Steel through this constructed Grade Separator at the said Tub Girder at Ropar Workshop. intersection provides a pleasing view, soothing effect and a profound respite to the eyes and mind of the people. • Mobile Arrangement for Anti-Carbonation paint application underneath the deck. The project consisted of: • Successful use of slip form pavers for construction of • Completely Signal Free Junction RCC Crash Barrier-First time in Delhi.13 • Flyover joining on Outer Ring Road with viaduct on RCC piers over pile foundation and composite steel structure of tub shape. - Team AFCONS

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ACP Cladding: the new trend in architectureIntroduction Disadvantages of ACPCladding in the context of building construction refers to the • Fire Hazardapplication of one material over another to provide a skin or • Poor Impact Resistancelayer intended to control the infiltration of weather elements Preparation for Installationor for aesthetic purposes. Prior to installing the ACP system, verify that the building is properly protected with a weather resistant barrier (WRB). Ventilation spaces should allow for uninhibited vertical airflow. The design of the ACP rain screen system allows it to be fastened directly to the wall framing or furring strips. Achieving a ventilation compartment is accomplished by spacing the system from the wall. Without this essential spacing, the system will not breathe correctly and will likely trap water, condensation, or other moisture. High Level Steps • The bracket layout is marked • Brackets are fixed & aligned.Aluminium Composite Panel (ACP) or Aluminium a) Position bracketComposite Material (ACM) is a widely used term describing b) Fix Fastenersflat panels that consist of a non-aluminium core bonded c) Provide packing using Shimsbetween two aluminium sheets. Aluminium sheets can be • The ACP Cladding panels shall be lifted up to respectivecoated with PVDF or Polyester paint. ACPs are frequently floors by using an internal material hoist and thenused for external cladding of buildings (building facades), for distributed outside the building vide openings i.e.insulation and for signage. ACP is very rigid and strong windows.despite its light weight. Aluminium can be painted in any kindof colour and ACPs are produced in a wide range of metallic • Panel Installationand non-metallic colours as well as patterns that imitate a) Fix gridsother materials, such as wood or marble. Applications of b) Position panels using plumb line to ensure alignmentACPs are not limited to external building cladding, but can of panelsalso be used in any form of cladding such as partitions, false c) Lock panels into the grid using locking arrangementsceilings etc. The core is commonly low density Polyethylene Note: An electrical gondola / cradle shall be used for all theor an insulating material. external façade.History Design LoadsCladding in construction has existed through the early times The ACP cladding is subjected to various loads, generatedwhen, in Norway, it was used on large barns to protect the by the environment and occupancy, including windloads, selfbare walls from the natural elements. However, more weight and impact loads. Inappropriate design can lead toformal research into cladding and its use as a weather cladding collapsing or being torn from the structure.elements excluder was a more recent process initiated in Excessive deformation may compromise the effectiveness ofthe 1940’s. The Alcoa Building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania weather seals. Wind flowing round a building causeswas one of the first very large buildings to utilise modern pressure and suction on the surfaces. The cladding shouldrainscreen cladding. be designed to have adequate strength, both in the panelsIn 1969, through a joint invention between Alusingen and and their connections to the structure.BASF, the first ACP was introduced to the world. In spite ofthe invention of the product in 1969, it was not until the mid80s that mainstream architecture discovered the use of thematerial. Since then the process of ACP cladding hasprogressed in leaps and bounds and now along withaluminium curtain-walls and glass, ACP materials dominatethe facade industry.There are many modern cities that have been built withthese materials. The impressive Burj al Arab, symbol of thecity of Dubai is a prime example and a benchmark projectfor ACP cladding. Computer Associates, HyderbadAdvantages of ACP• Light weight and impressive strength-to-weight ratio Performance testing of cladding• Material adaptability and flexibility In buildings where the cladding system is complex,• Durability performance testing for weather tightness may be required• Harmony with the environment as part of the contract conditions to demonstrate• Variety of colours compliance with specified performance criteria. The testing regime depends on the type of cladding system. 14

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Trends: Self Cleaning Facades Aluminium composite panel consists of two sheets of aluminium bonding a layer of LDPE (low density polyethylene) core in a continuous high pressure and thermal compositing process. In self cleaning facades the surface aluminium is roller-coated with quality NANO PVDF lacquer with the back coated in anti-rust PET coating. Surface plastic film for protecting surface of panels can be peeled off. - Team SPFAB Mac Solutions, Hyderabad In sealed systems (such as many forms of curtain walling) a representative sample of the wall, a minimum of one bay of the building, including all the details of the intended design is constructed. The tests generally include: Static pressure and water flow - A vacuum is applied to the rear of the sample and water flow is directed using a series of spray bar nozzles. The inside of the wall is then inspected for water leakage. Dynamic testing - The static test creates a positive pressure across the cladding, the dynamic test endeavours to create more realistic conditions by developing a turbulent pattern of wind driven rain across the external face of the cladding. In some test arrangements an aircraft engine is used to provide a dynamic wind pattern. Tishman, Hyderabad SP Initiatives in Junagadh The power plant has already executed an agreement for sale of 800 MW to Gujarat and active steps in implementation of these projects are in progress. The plant will have latest super critical technology boilers for power generation together with use of low ash and low sulphur coal and an extensive green belt with environment conservation measures. The land for these projects are being procured directly from the land owners and inline with the philosophy of the SP Group promoters, noteworthy efforts are being made to ensure that these projects benefit the local communities. The following initiatives, undertaken at the project location, have received overwhelming response from the villages/local communities: 1. A Mobile Dispensary with full time qualified doctor and assisting staff is operational since November, 2010. The mobile dispensary Medicines are distributed free of cost to those treated by The Shapoorji Pallonji Group is investing over ` 100 billion, this primary care dispensary. A grand function was one of its largest investments, in the development of an organized at Central Kodinar to inaugurate this van. As of integrated port and power facility in Junagadh District of date, on average, over 90 persons are being treated Gujarat. everyday as the dispensary travels to the four villages covered by the projects. SP Group has won a concession through competitive bidding for setting up a deep draft, all weather, multi-user 2. SP Group have entered in a MOU with BAIF, a leading and multi-cargo port at Chhara with an investment of NGO based on Gandhian Principles, for a period of approximately ` 12 billion in the first phase. On completion, 5 years to take up activities for cattle breeding, cattle it would be one of the few ports in India that can berth health camp, and training of locals in income generating cape-size vessels, large container vessels apart from current schemes. Subsequently, a BAIF team is already operating generation LNG carriers and liquid cargo. in the villages. The Group is also implementing a coal based thermal SP Group, being a socially responsible corporate, will15 power project with an initial capacity of 1,320 MW with capacity to expand to 2,640 MW. The first phase is being implemented at an investment of over ` 70 billion. continuously endeavor to promote the welfare of local communities through such activities. - Bevin Mathews, SP Infra

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Your SpaceEuropean Holiday (A travel log by Mukesh Rao, SP HO)In mid September, my wife and I toured Europe. The 15day package tour organised by a reputed travel companycovered 9 locations - Italy, Vatican City, Austria, Switzerland,Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, France and UnitedKingdom. On completion of the tour, we extended our stayin the United Kingdom by two weeks.It would be a gross understatement to say that we enjoyedthe trip. We loved every minute of it and the memories willstay with us throughout our life. I strongly urge you to makethe trip if you get an opportunity.The tour started in Rome. In our three days in Italy, we alsocovered Florence, Pisa and Venice. These places are notedfor their history and culture. The Colisseum in Rome maynot impress us Indians who are used to magnificent ruins,but the paintings in the Sistine Chapel, Vatican as well asinteriors of the St. Peters Basilica will blow your mind away. Mt Titlis, SwitzerlandMore magnificent renaissance art follows in Florence till therichness of it all leaves you hoping for a change of scene.Venice and its canals were unique though the water was Our next stop was Germany. We had a cruise down thedirty. Rhine admiring the pretty houses and the odd castle on the banks. We spent some time at the Black Forest - blackWe were happy to see the rich greens of mountain because of the thick density of trees. German villages aremeadows, the quaint hillside houses and the bubbling picturesque. We saw the awesome cathedral at Cologne. Astreams as we climbed into Austria. We stayed in Innsbruck massive traffic pile up on the Autobahn reduced our stay atwhich is a ‘hill station’. Wonderful old style buildings. Heidelberg Castle. German towns are clinical in their looksGraceful people. It seemed a different world. Pity, we and architecture. Very modern and efficient.stopped for just a day there. Austria is definitely worthreturning to and would compete with Switzerland for the We drove into the flat and tiny countries of Belgium and Themost enchanting scenery. Netherlands. We were now in Western Europe. The weather is colder, the scenery is less wild. There are more people and English is widely understood. At Brussels, we saw the grand buildings lined along the aptly named ‘Grand Place’ and enjoyed eating waffles. We cruised along the canals in Amsterdam. As a Civil Engineer, I tend to enjoyThe River Inn in InbnsbruckThe three days in Switzerland were the best. All lake andmountain country. We took a train to the top of Europe-Jungfraujoch - which, at 11,500 feet, has perennial snowand ice. It felt great to play in and slide down the snow -something that we would never experience here. Thescenery is breathtaking. We also got to see waterfalls inside amountain. The covered wooden bridge in Lucerne, Switzerland these cruises more because of the architecture of the buildings along the banks. Our last stop in continental Europe was Paris in France - the most visited nation on Earth. The Eiffel Tower did not disappoint nor did the most famous road in Paris - Champs d’Elysees. We warmed up to Paris as it reminded us of Mumbai - full of life and variety. We took a cruise on the Seine and wished we had more time at the Louvre, one of the world’s greatest museums. Frankly, I felt Leonardo DaAustria Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” was over hyped. 16

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We then crossed under the tunnel in the “Eurostar” to 1) Vegetarian Indian breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout London. We can’t feel the high speeds - 200 kmph, I guess. though we did sample local delicacies like apple strudel, London is home for us Indians. The language is familiar, the potato rosti, etc. culture and customs are not strange and Indians and their 2) Accommodation in good hotels. restaurants are everywhere. After nearly 2 weeks, I got to read English papers and scan the cricket scores. 3) No standing in queues anywhere. All entries were arranged. Here, my wife was thrilled to be photographed with Sachin at Tussauds. We saw London from the giant wheel - London 4) No language problems as we had a tour manager. Eye - and had a tour on the ground. Anyone who has 5) No time wasted in locating sights or restaurants. played ‘Monopoly’ in his childhood will be thrilled at discovering Trafalgar Square, Euston Road, Piccadilly, Bond 6) Discipline as we had to be off at 8 a.m. On solo trips, Street etc. The we may have been lazy. Tower of London was a bit dull and many in our group were griping about the ‘Kohinoor ’ being stolen from our country. We also saw the ornately carved Swaminarayan temple in the suburbs. From hereon, we stayed back in UK. We were put up in Eiffel Tower - Paris Reading, 64 kms from London. The trains cover the distance in 25 mts. but Street View - Rome the return fare is as much as a 2 tier AC train ticket from Mumbai to Bengaluru. In our 14 days here, we explored Europe is beautiful and orderly. The roads are excellent. scenic towns like Oxford, Bath and Salisbury; historic They go to great lengths to preserve their environment. It’s Stonehenge; and the Thames at Henley. We saw more of not difficult to move on your own as signages, guide maps London - its museums (British Museum, Greenwich), and public transport are excellent. I felt more at home in gardens (Kew), Westminster Abbey and even a musical at a London than in Kolkata. The intricate underground ‘tube’ is West End Theatre. But the highlight undoubtedly was a 2 easy to use. Language is not much of a problem except in day trip to Scotland. We stayed in Edinburgh - the whole Paris. Seven of the nine countries share one currency - city is a UNESCO heritage site - and took a tour to the wild Euro. After immigration in Rome, our only other border highlands and Loch Ness. Remote and grim like our Ladakh, control (Passport Check) was at Paris as we boarded the but ethereally beautiful. Eurostar. Infact, you can’t make out the border when you cross from The Netherlands to Belgium. But Europe is also We can’t recall a single bitter experience in our trip. We extremely expensive and you are likely to be shocked by the never regretted taking a package tour despite the fact that prices. we had no control over the itinerary. But the advantages are many: But it’s all worth it. Go for it. It’s bound to be an experience of a lifetime. Prehistoric Stonehenge, England Guild Halls, Brussels17

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Mobile Computing - New platforms, Newer possibilities.Mobile computing has been around for a decent period now gadgets. Tablet PCs generallyand we all know about the signature gadget in this field – the have two formats, a convertiblelaptop computer or the notebook. Laptops transformed model with an integratedcomputing trends as they allowed the computer to be carried keyboard and display that rotatesout of office or home and this opened up immense 180 degrees and can be foldedpossibilities. Today, laptops have taken over the corporate and down over the keyboard, or ahome computing world in a big way. However, mobile slate style flat panel design.computing has advanced further and newer platforms and Central to a tablet’s design is adevices with more focused use have emerged. We take a look touch screen interface that allowsat a couple of these devices in this article. the user to navigate easily andThe Netbook quickly. Although there are versions of tablets that have a The Netbook is like a keyboard, the main input source mini version of the is still the touch screen, using handwriting recognition. Touch laptop – it is smaller screens are also very handy in case you want to draw. With and lighter and is called multi-touch input points, these touch screens are very capable so because it is like a surfaces. The screen sizes of tablet PCs are usually in the range small notebook or of 6 inches to 10 inches. Since tablet computers are meant to laptop and is primarily be used on the move, they are always exposed to tougher used to connect to the environments. However, now most tablet PC manufacturers net and for basic have taken steps to further strengthen their devices and are computing needs. even producing rugged versions. H o w e v e r, n o w Netbook have grown The main feature or USP of the tablet PC is portability. significantly in terms of Weighing approximately between 800 gm to 1.3 kg, the tablettheir processing capabilities and features. PC can be used as a high powered PDA or trimmed-down notebook, depending on your point of view. The tablet PCThe device is increasingly becoming popular as it offers better hopes to fill a niche market for executives on the go. It is notmobility and ease due to lower weight compared to full very high in terms of processing power but is able to carry outfledged laptops. Things have been changing rapidly and now all activities which one would require while being on thedual core processor Netbook is entering the market; hard disk move. Wireless internet browsing, emails, videocapacities have gone over 200 GB and multimedia capabilities conferencing, e-book reading, GPS, games, music, videos,have increased tremendously. document viewing and editing are all possible on a tablet. InNetbook does not have CD/DVD drive but it does feature addition a number of other applications can be downloaded ormultiple USB ports, WiFi, Blutooth, Camera and many other installed. Most new tablets use the latest rage – Google’s openfeatures found on laptops. External CD/DVD drives can be source operating system for mobile devices – Android.connected via USB. A Netbook can by and large do almost However, iPad, the tablet from Apple, uses their proprietaryeverything that a laptop can; with some limitations for OS. The tablet can also run on a specialized version ofapplications requiring high processing capabilities. Netbook Windows XP operating system. Most tablets have small inbuilthas very good battery life. A 6 - cell battery can give anywhere storage space compared to a Netbook but allow memorybetween 4-7 hours of life to the Netbook. The battery life for cards to be used for additional space. With high processingdual core processor Netbook may be lesser due to higher power, long battery life, wireless connectivity and very lightpower requirement of these processors. Netbook, due to the and small form factor, the tablet is here to stay and is rapidlyvery form and purpose of providing portability and gaining popularity across the world.connectivity on the move, has smaller screens and lower iPad is the tablet that created a buzz around the world. It is still aresolutions than a laptop. Netbook screen is generally of fast selling product. Samsung has recently launched a veryaround 10-12 inches as against a laptop screen of 14-15 capable tablet called Samsung Galaxy Tab which has aninches. amazing processor speed of 1Ghz. Tablets are available fromSo if your computing requirements are not very demanding in other brands such as Sony, HP Dell, Archos etc. However, ,terms of processing power and you need to be on the move, a these may not be officially available in India. The grey marketNetbook is a very good option. price of an iPad is approx. ` 35,000. Samsung Galaxy Tab is officially available at ` 38,000. Another tablet launched in IndiaAs Netbook are growing in terms of processing power, so are is the Olivepad which is available at an official price of approx.the prices. Today, a top of the line Netbook from a leading ` 25,000. A number of unbranded tablet PCs are also availablebrand could set you back by almost ` 30,000. However, there in the market. Most of them are of Chinese make and areare a number of decent netbooks in the range of ` 15,000 to available in the price range of ` 7,000 to ` 14,000. These,` 20,000. So you need to take a call on price-performance however, do not have any warranty and are not as powerful asratio based on your usage and requirements. Netbooks are Samsung or Apple in terms of processing. However, they doavailable from various reputed brands such as Lenovo, HP , suffice many requirements of mobile computing and areHCL, Dell, Asus, MSI and others. becoming quite popular, especially amongst students.Tablet PC - Saurav Chaturvedi, SPRE HOTablet PCs, mostly referred to as Tablet are different fromNetbook and laptops. These are basically flat pad design 18